Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



N. THOMPSON.

Improvement in Breech-Loading Ordnance.

INVENTOR:

zzzgw e Patented Oct. 1, I872.

UNITED STATES ATENT FIC.

NATHAN THOMPSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YOBK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,833, dated October1, 1872; antedated September 28, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN THOMPSON, of the city of Brooklyn, in Kingscounty and State of New York, have invented an Improvement inBreech-Loading Ordnance, of which the following is a specification:

This invention is designed to reduce as much as possible the amount ofpower required to remove from and return the breech-portion in heavyordnance to its position in line with the bore of the gun; and itconsists in constructing the breech proper of cylindric or similar form,so that it may be moved to one side from its central position by rollingit in guides with or without a rack and gearing, as may be desirable,and'suitably proportioned to its Weight.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a centralhorizontal section of the body of the gun, with a plan or top view ofthe rolling breech; Fig. 2 is a side view, with the breech rolled asidefrom the bore of the gun; and Fig. 3 is a rear-end view in the sameposition as shown in Fig. 2.

The same letters indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A represents the body of the gun; B, the bore; O,the main breech-block;D, the screw which carries the firing-apparatus, which is the subject ofone of my previous applications,

and need not be further described here. The

breech-block O is of a cylindrical form, and is fitted to roll inchannels or ways extending from the center to one side of the rearportion of the gun. A portion of this breech-block may have spur-gear Eformed around its periphery to engage with a rack, G, while anotherportion, 0, of similar diameter, abuts against the shoulder a, in theways above mentioned, and is provided with a groove in its periphery toengage with a check-screw, d, and prevent said breech-block from rollingtoo far to the side.

In the operation of this breech it will be seen that there is no weightto be lifted, as in some other breech-loadin g ordnance, and that allthe force required is that necessary to roll a cylinder on a horizontalplane.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

A cylindrical breech-block, con structed with spur-teeth E around itsperiphery to gear with the rack Gr, whereby the said breech-piece ismoved to and from its position for firing by a rolling action,substantially as described.

NATHAN THOMPSON. Witnesses:

SYDNEY E. SMITH,

W. MORRIS SMITH.

